Camarillo Shows Finishing Kick

THOUSAND OAKS — Leave the door slightly ajar and an opponent will bust it down. That’s the message in Marmonte League basketball, where all eight boys’ teams possess a strong kick.

Camarillo High won a league opener against Thousand Oaks, 62-57, Wednesday night, but not until surviving a scare caused by the least little letdown.

After opening up a 33-24 halftime lead on 13 points from Mariano It, an exchange student from Argentina, the Scorpions (5-1) slipped in the third quarter and Thousand Oaks (4-3) roared back.

The Lancers, playing without injured 6-foot-8 center Scott Sheridan, took their first lead, 45-44, one minute into the fourth quarter on a layup by guard Robbie Cassel.

Thousand Oaks held the advantage until senior guard Nathan Kaup made a three-point shot with three minutes to play to put Camarillo ahead, 52-51.

Kaup’s shot keyed an 11-point Camarillo run that put the game away. Leo Espelet, another exchange student from Argentina, scored all eight of his points in the fourth quarter.

“No team will dominate in this league and the minute you have a letdown they will be right there,” said Kaup, who scored 20 points.

It had 15 points but only four after the first quarter. Josh Hill, the league’s top returning scorer was held to 10. Camarillo made 12 of 18 free throws--all in the second half.

Mike Lauer scored 20 points for Thousand Oaks and sophomore guard Joe Riccio added 14.

Sheridan, a senior who played well in the Lancers’ double-overtime loss to top-ranked Harvard-Westlake last week, will miss at least two weeks because of a hairline fracture in his right foot.